The Legal Use of Firearms for Self-Defense in the District of Columbia

March 30 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

THE LEGAL USE OF FIREARMS FOR SELF-DEFENSE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA –

WHEN THE DEFENSIVE USE OF FIREARMS IS PERMISSIBLE AND

HOW TO WIN THE LEGAL BATTLE THAT WILL FOLLOW

This two-part course teaches the District of Columbia’s legal limits on the use of deadly force in self-defense situations, with a particular focus on the use of firearms. It will give you a working knowledge of the legal boundaries between a justifiable use of firearms in self-defense, and an incident that will expose you to criminal prosecution and civil damages liability. If you live or work in Washington, D.C., and rely on firearms for self-defense, this course will give you a practical set of guidelines and steps you can take to maximize your chances of winning (and financially surviving) the legal battle that inevitably follows a self-defense shooting.

The course is presented in a seven-hour session that includes restroom breaks and a break for lunch. In Part I of the course, we explain in everyday terms the District’s boundaries between the lawful and unlawful defensive use of firearms. Our presentation is highlighted and illustrated with useful, practical examples involving real-life situations. We cover street confrontations, home invasions, domestic violence, and defending others. We will also explain the District’s troublesome requirement for retreat and its unrealistic rules relating to proportionality of response. In addition, we discuss the extent to which you can rely on prevention of an atrocious felony to justify the use of deadly force. We will point out a number of important differences between the law of self-defense in the District and Virginia.

In Part II, we describe the legal battle that follows on the heels of almost every self-defense use of deadly force. We explain each step in the post-incident legal process and give you a real understanding of how the system works. We teach you how to deal with the critical time just after a self-defense shooting, including 911 calls, interaction with the police, when and how to assert your Fifth Amendment rights, and what follows after an arrest. The course gives you practical steps you should take and tools you will need to (i) protect your legal rights and (ii) help you (and your counsel) extricate you from the legal system with the least amount of difficulty. Part II also discloses the real magnitude of your exposure in defending against criminal and civil suits, and provides detailed, current information about the various kinds of insurance coverage that are available to help you financially survive a protracted legal battle.

This new course on the law of self-defense in the District is taught by Stephen L. Sulzer, a highly-respected attorney with 38 years of legal experience, and special expertise in the law of self-defense. He is also an NRA-certified pistol instructor, has held a concealed carry permit for more than 20 years, and has ten years of competitive shooting experience. A sister course taught at SEG by Mr. Sulzer covers the law of self-defense in Virginia. Mr. Sulzer consistently receives rave reviews from SEG members, and his law of self-defense course has become the gold standard for those who rely on firearms for self-defense in Virginia. Mr. Sulzer predicts that those who have taken the Virginia course will find the D.C. course equally engaging and useful.

Course Date/Time: Saturday, March 30th 10:00 am -5:00 pm

Cost: $150.00

Participants: 20 Students ages 21 and up

Duration: 7 hours

* U.S. FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES YOU TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN OR PERMANENT RESIDENT TO TAKE THIS CLASS. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW A FORM OF CITIZENSHIP ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. *